In the early decades of the twentieth century, many American artists looked to Europe for their styles, which they adapted to American scenes. This talk will include John Marin’s energetic watercolors of bustling New York; Arthur Dove’s representations of the American countryside; Georgia O’Keeffe’s abstractions based on nature, along with her popular flower and Southwest paintings; and Max Weber’s cubist-inspired women and city scenes. Then we will move into the 1920s, when Precisionists Charles Sheeler and Charles Demuth celebrated American industry, and, finally, to the Great Depression era, during which Social Realists focused on the problems of the time, while artists like Grant Wood celebrated the rural ideal.

About the 150 Years of Contemporary Art Lecture Series

This lecture series, held every two years in conjunction with the Education Department’s docent training course, will cover the history of art from the mid-nineteenth century through 2012. Curator of Education Mariann Smith and Associate Curator of Education Nancy Spector will focus on works in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s Collection as they cover both the art and the history of the past 150 years. The series continues through Saturday, March 16, 2013. Doors for all lectures open at 11 am. View Full Schedule